A great man and a great Iowan passed away over the weekend: scientist and humanitarian Norman Borlaug.

It’s tough to use just one name to define Borlaug, especially considering he despised that “father” moniker. Every man or woman wants to have as many positive adjectives behind her or his name as possible. But do glowing venerations do the man justice?

“Norman Borlaug was a great man!”

Even that is too minor. A man who saved millions of people by finding new breeds of high-yielding crops is beyond our contemplation. The only explanation for his greatness is otherworldly. God must have sent down Borlaug, most likely in a chariot made of freshly plucked corn. His mission: Create food for millions of hungry people.

“Norman Borlaug was an iconic figure.”

Ernest Hemingway was an iconic figure, and even he couldn’t have used his sharp, terse prose to lavish praise on this giant of human.

Borlaug was one of only five people to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal — putting him in a prestigious group with Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Elie Wiesel, and Nelson Mandela.

The reason for these many accolades, you may ask?

Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work to make Mexico a higher producer of wheat. He later did the same in India and Pakistan, forever changing these Third World countries to food exporters throughout the world.

“Norman Borlaug is a mythical figure!”

No offense to Homer and The Odyssey, but Borlaug transcended literature and biblical narratives. This Iowan, born near Cresco, taught people to use certain resources and capitalize on this by producing more food. In the 1960s, Borlaug’s ingenious work helped prevent widespread famine across many countries.

In 2007, during a presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal, former Secretary of State Colin Powell was quick to point out Borlaug’s impressive legacy.

“Dr. Borlaug’s scientific breakthroughs have eased needless suffering and saved countless lives [and] have been an inspiration to new generations across the globe who have taken up the fight against hunger.”

As an Iowan, I take pride in the accomplishments of other Iowans. It’s the neighborly aspect of our small community lives.

Iowa is such a small place. Its fixture in this country is marked by two events: the yearly harvest and the Iowa caucuses. Corn and politics. That’s what we bring to this nation. Some may even eat the corn while they watch the results of the caucuses.

Norman Borlaug never got into politics. A voice such as his would have been drowned out by the hissing sounds of false platforms. Luckily, he stuck to his guns and, in doing so, saved millions of lives with his brilliant mind.

Hopefully, these few simple words helped shed some light on a true American hero.

“Norman Borlaug was an Iowan.”

Perfect.